Princess Theatre Brisbane guide: parking, seating, bags, buses

The Princess Theatre is a restored 1880s theatre at 8 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba, on the south side of the river in Brisbane. The venue calls it Queensland's oldest standing theatre. It reopened as a live music venue in 2021 under the people who run The Tivoli, and it holds around 900 standing.

The first thing that catches people out is the name. There's also a Princess Theatre in Melbourne, and it's easy to land on the wrong one when you search. The venue's own accessibility page says it outright: "Please note we are The Princess Theatre in Brisbane, not Melbourne." The other things people get wrong are parking (there isn't any on site), the age rules (they change from show to show), and the lack of a cloakroom.

Everything below comes from the venue's own pages, Translink, Brisbane City Council and Cross River Rail, checked on 2 October 2026. Rules can change, so read your event page too. For other gigs around town, see concerts in Brisbane or our Brisbane concerts guide.

Quick facts

Is this the Princess Theatre in Brisbane or Melbourne?

If your ticket says Woolloongabba, Brisbane or QLD 4102, it's this one. Melbourne's Princess Theatre is a different building in a different state.

It matters most when you're booking parking or a taxi. Search for "Woolloongabba" or "Annerley Road" rather than the venue name, and check the address before you pay for anything.

Is there parking at The Princess Theatre?

Not at the venue. The FAQ says "There is no on-site parking at The Princess", and street parking around it is "pretty limited."

The car parks the venue names are:

The venue doesn't publish rates, opening hours or whether any of these suit a late finish, so check with the operator before you rely on one. If you're searching parking apps, use the street address rather than the venue name, so you don't end up looking at car parks in Melbourne.

On its venue hire page, the venue sums up its own advice: catch the train to South Bank, ride a bus to Mater Hill, or get dropped off.

How do I get to The Princess Theatre?

The venue is about a ten-minute drive south of the CBD, and public transport gets you very close.

Bus: Mater Hill busway station

Mater Hill busway station is the closest stop, "less than 200m from the venue", according to the venue. The South Bank busway station is within 1km.

Translink's stop page for Mater Hill, checked on 2 October 2026, lists a long run of routes, including:

• Metro M1 (Eight Mile Plains to City) and Metro M2 (RBWH to UQ Lakes via City)
• Route 61, the Maroon CityGlider (Ashgrove to Coorparoo via the city)
• busway and suburban routes 100, 107, 116, 120, 130, 140, 150, 180, 200, 210, 212, 214, 215, 220, 222, 230, 235, 333 and 555
• several NightLink routes (more on those below)

Check your exact route in the Translink Journey Planner, because not every route stops in both directions.

Train: South Bank station

South Bank station is the closest train station, about 850m away. The venue's walking directions: "Exit onto Grey St and turn right, walking towards Vulture St. Continue onto Vulture St and turn right at Clarence Corner, Woolloongabba onto Annerley Rd. You will see The Princess on your left." The FAQ calls it "less than 15 minutes walking distance."

On 2 October 2026, Translink's South Bank station page listed T4 Cleveland and Shorncliffe, T5 Airport and T6 Ferny Grove services. That was during a long track closure on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines (see the warning below), so the list will change once the closure ends.

What about Cross River Rail and the new Woolloongabba station?

Not yet. Cross River Rail's new underground Woolloongabba station is being built at Woolloongabba's major intersection, and the venue's hire page already lists it as nearby. But as of 2 October 2026, Cross River Rail says the project is in its testing and commissioning phase, which it describes as "a significant and elongated process that we have to go through before passengers can use the Cross River Rail". Its Woolloongabba station page shows construction updates running to December 2026. Don't plan your trip around it until Translink says it's open.

Taxi and rideshare

The venue mentions Uber and DiDi, plus Yellow Cabs and Black & White Cabs through 13CABS. Use the loading zone outside Hotel Diana, next door.

Getting home after the show

The venue says all-ages gigs usually finish by 10pm, and "18+ gigs wrap anytime between 11pm and 1am." After the show, "Our bars will remain open for a little bit after the gig."

Late buses

This is where the venue's location helps. As of 2 October 2026:

• Maroon CityGlider (route 61) stops at Mater Hill. Brisbane City Council says it runs "24 hours a day on Friday and Saturday", at "30-minute intervals after midnight".
• Metro M1 and M2 are on Translink's list of regular late-night services in Brisbane, and both stop at Mater Hill.
• Translink's Mater Hill page lists NightLink routes N100, N130, N184, N200, N226, N250 and N555. Translink says Nightlink buses run between midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights and leave from Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City. Most pick up at any stop on their route, but "Only routes N310 and N555 will pick passengers up from selected stops", so check the N555 timetable. Nightlink buses have security guards on board and will drop you anywhere on the route where it's safe to stop.

Late trains

Translink publishes last trains as departures from Central station, not South Bank, so look up your South Bank time in the Journey Planner. On Friday and Saturday nights, the published last Cleveland line train leaves Central at 12:47am, and the last Beenleigh line train at 12:34am.

There's also a Nightlink train on the Beenleigh line that Translink lists as leaving South Bank at 3:59am on weekend nights, arriving at Beenleigh at 4:56am. During the track closure above, that service may not run, so check first.

Taxis

Translink's secure taxi ranks are all north of the river (Eagle Street and George Street in the city, and two in Fortitude Valley). There isn't one listed near the venue, so book a taxi or rideshare to the Hotel Diana loading zone.

Seating plan: how is The Princess laid out?

The venue doesn't publish a seating map for gigs. What it says is this: "Seating plans change for every event, so check it at the point of sale on the Ticketmaster website." So the seating plan you see when you buy is the one that applies to your show.

What the venue does publish gives you the general shape:

• The auditorium floor. A flat floor in front of a raised stage inside the old arched proscenium. For standing shows this is the general admission floor. For seated shows it holds the reserved or unallocated seating.
• The mezzanine. Upstairs, overlooking the floor. The venue's function floor plans label it "Mezzanine Seating" and show a mezzanine bar. At mixed-age shows, under-18s sit up here (see the age rules below).
• The Juliet Balcony. A private booth above the mezzanine, sold as a VIP option, which the venue says has "unobstructed, private views of the stage".
• The Gallery. An upstairs room opposite the mezzanine, with seating and toilets. It's used for VIP pre-show packages and as a quieter space.

The venue's About page puts the restored auditorium at "a standing capacity of 900 and a seated theatre capacity of 500". Its venue hire page gives slightly higher figures: 920 standing, 527 seated theatre-style and 333 cabaret-style.

Where should I stand or sit?

The venue doesn't rank seats or publish views from them, so we can't tell you which ones are better. A few things it does say:

• GA shows are first come, first served. For general admission, "Get to the venue early so you can find a great location for you and your buddies."
• Buy seats together. For reserved shows, "If you're coming with friends, best buy your tickets together."
• Mind the mosh. The venue warns that some genres bring "a high energy moshpit" and advises newcomers against entering the pit. If you don't want to be part of crowd surfing, it suggests you don't stand front and centre.

Age rules and ID: can under-18s go?

It depends on the show. The venue says "Age restrictions are determined by the promoter or band who has hired the venue." The FAQ, as of 2 October 2026, lists these gig types:

• GA Standing and GA Seated, 18+ only. Unallocated. "'18+ Only' means minors aren't allowed full stop, not even with a guardian, and this includes babies."
• GA Standing (18+) and Reserved Seated (Licensed All Ages). Adults are on the floor downstairs, and "folks aged 6-18 will be seated on the mezzanine". The venue recommends kids aged 6 to 13 come with a parent or guardian who buys a reserved seat with them.
• Reserved Seating, Licensed All Ages. Alcohol is served and staff may check ID at the bar. There's "a strict no babes in arms policy and children under the age of 6 are not permitted in the venue." Everyone over 6 needs a ticket.
• Reserved Seating, 18+ only. Allocated seats, no under-18s, ID checked at the door.

Bag policy: what can you bring?

Bags and the cloakroom

There's no cloakroom. In the venue's words: "Since nobody wears cloaks anymore (and it's Brisbane) we don't have a cloak room." Big bags aren't banned, "but you'll have to carry it around all night", and you're responsible for your own things. The FAQ doesn't give a bag size limit or a list of banned items beyond cameras, so if you're unsure about something, ask the venue before the show.

Bands usually sell merch, and the venue says most accept cash and card. With no cloakroom, whatever you buy stays with you.

Cameras

The venue asks you to "leave your camera equipment at home", and lists "DSLRs, digicams, camcorders, cinema cameras, polaroids, disposable cameras, 360-degree cameras, broadcast cameras and professional microphones." They won't be let in without a photographer's pass. Phones are fine.

What to wear

"No steel caps or thongs (shoes) permitted." Shorts, hats, skirts, heels and sneakers are all fine.

Can you leave and come back in?

The venue's pages don't cover re-entry or pass-outs. If you think you'll need to step out, ask security at the door before you go in.

Accessibility

The venue's accessibility page, as of 2 October 2026, says:

• Getting in: there are two steps from the street into the venue. Wheelchair users use an outdoor lift next to Fables Café. The venue gives its maximum load as 340kg and its size as 900mm wide (between handrails) by 1,400mm long.
• What's accessible: the auditorium, courtyard, Fables and the front foyer. Another lift inside the theatre goes down to the accessible toilet.
• What isn't: the upstairs mezzanine and its toilet, the Gallery and the green rooms.
• Accessible section: a reserved area in the auditorium for people with access requirements and their companions, behind a crowd control barrier at the front with temporary fencing at the sides and back. Space is limited, and wheelchair users and people with a disability get priority.
• Accessibility list: email accessibility@theprincesstheatre.com.au at least two business days before the show. You'll be added to the list given to security, and you can skip the queue and check in at the front doors.
• Booking: for Ticketmaster shows, call the accessible booking line on 1300 446 925 or use Ticketmaster's online request form (choose "Accessible Bookings"). For shows sold through other agencies, contact the venue directly.
• Companion Card: holders get a second ticket for their companion at no cost, subject to availability in the accessible allocation.
• Auslan: some shows are Auslan-interpreted. If so, it's on the event page.
• Lighting: it can get quite dark, and the venue doesn't always manage to signpost strobe effects. Ask ahead if strobes are a concern.
• Quieter spaces: the Courtyard, next to the auditorium, has seating, toilets, dimmed lighting and less noise, and is wheelchair accessible from the street. The upstairs Gallery is quieter too, but brighter and not wheelchair accessible.
• Assistance animals are welcome.
• Parking: the venue doesn't mention accessible parking of its own.

There's a 3D tour on the accessibility page if you want to look around before you go. The page doesn't mention a hearing loop.

One mismatch to know about: the accessibility page lists 07 3852 1711 as its phone number, which is also the number The Tivoli publishes. The Princess's contact page gives (07) 2104 3833. Email is the safer bet.

Food and drink

The venue has four bars, according to its About and venue hire pages. Downstairs is Fables Bar & Café, the theatre's own café and bar at 2/8 Annerley Road. It opens from 6:30am Monday to Saturday, serves coffee, pastries and a food menu, and is "open late on gig nights", so it works for a drink before or after the show. The venue's pages don't say whether hot food is served inside the auditorium on gig nights.

For eating nearby, the venue's Your Visit page names Brewhouse Brisbane, Boo's Kitchen, C'est Bon and Le Bon Bar, and Birria Boy, all on Stanley Street or Annerley Road. For after the show, it suggests Fables, Can You Keep A Secret, Le Bon Bar, echo & bounce, Circa 27 and Brewhouse Brisbane, or the South Bank dining strip.

Tickets, box office and doors

• Where to buy: "The Princess will primarily be ticketed through Ticketmaster", with some shows on Oztix, Ticketek, Moshtix, Humanitix, Eventbrite or QTIX. If you're unsure about a seller, check the event page on the venue's site or call.
• Door sales: shows that haven't sold out "usually have a small ticket allocation available from the Box Office on the night." The venue can't hold tickets over the phone.
• Collecting at the door: bring photo ID and the bank card you paid with. Collection opens when doors open.
• Phone tickets: fine, as long as the barcode is readable. The box office can reprint a ticket you can't find.
• Door times: printed on your ticket and the venue's website. "Generally, we'll open the main doors 30 minutes to an hour before the show starts." Set times may not be known until the day.
• Refunds: not for a change of mind. Refund requests go to the ticket agency.
• Resale: the venue points to Tixel and says you'll "never buy or sell a ticket for more than 10% of the original purchase price" there. It warns against Viagogo, StubHub and sellers in Facebook comments: "Do NOT buy tickets from someone in the comments on Facebook. You will be scammed."
• Lost property: call (07) 2104 3833, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, or message the venue on Facebook.

A bit of history

The venue's own history, written by historian Robert Allen, says the hall was built in 1888 on what was then Boggo Road, designed by architect John Beauchamp Nicholson for solicitor Philip Hardgrave, and that it opened to the public as the South Brisbane Theatre "on Saturday, 6 April 1889". Boggo Road became Annerley Road in 1905. The building has been a drapery, a clothing factory, a cinema, a rag merchant's store and a second-hand dealer's, among other things. Wikipedia also gives 1888 as the build year. The venue's About page says it "opened in 1888", so you'll see both years quoted: 1888 for the building, 1889 for the first night.

It became the Princess in 1912, when West's Pictures leased it as a cinema. Movies ran until 1948, and then it spent decades as a warehouse and factory. The history argues that this "decidedly unromantic" period is what saved it, since nobody was interested in redeveloping it. The National Trust of Queensland added it to its register in 1985, theatre company TN! moved in from 1986 to 1991, and it went onto the Queensland Heritage Register in October 1992. Wikipedia dates the listing to 21 October 1992. From 2001 a church used it, while still hiring it out for shows.

In late 2020 it was bought by businessman Steve Wilson and Tivoli owners Steve and Dave Sleswick. After a restoration it reopened in 2021, and the venue's gig history lists its first event in October 2021.

Before you go

• Check the address on your ticket: 8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba, Brisbane.
• Check the gig type: 18+, Licensed All Ages, or a mix with under-18s on the mezzanine.
• Bring photo ID for 18+ shows (licence, 18+ card, passport or QLD digital licence).
• Pack light. There's no cloakroom.
• Leave the camera at home. Phones only.
• No thongs, no steel caps.
• Bus to Mater Hill or train to South Bank. Check for track closures first.
• Driving? Search parking by street address, not venue name, and check the car park's hours.
• Late show? Look up the Maroon CityGlider or your NightLink bus from Mater Hill.
• Need access help? Email accessibility@theprincesstheatre.com.au at least two business days ahead.

Upcoming shows at The Princess Theatre